Tantra Yoga : Exercise in Increasing Vital Energy, Vegetarian Food

Andrew Moore from Johannesburg,
South Africa
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The seeker of Tantra Yoga believes
that the universe is the projecting of
divine energy. And the whole universe
is a stock of cosmic power; and that
cosmic energy is within every one of us

What is Tantra        Definition of Tantra is given in many scriptures and books of yoga, in various ways and in different words? In simple words, Tantra is a technique that could generate psychic power in our body. Tantra teaches us certain techniques and principles which enable us to experience the unfathomable potential of the human mind and psychic power. This power enables us to experience the ultimate bliss. It also guides how man and woman could experience the universe that is beyond ourselves. To feel this cosmic energy, we are required to activate it from its dormant position. Tantra coupled with yoga poses tries to join the limited energy of humans with the unlimited cosmic energy of the universe.

Kundalini and Chakra     The seeker of Tantra takes the help of the concept of Kundalini which is known as the dormant power embedded into the human body in the form of a female serpent. The Kundalini travels through seven Chakras. These Chakras are clusters of glands located in our body parallel to the spinal cord. They are named Muladhara, Swadhistan, Manipur, Anahat, Visudha, Anja and the last one is Sahastrar. As the Kundalini rises with our yogic efforts, the Chakras get activated one by one.

Mantra      Another device used by the Tantric practitioner is the chanting of Mantras. These are the verses to chant while doing any religious acts or performing yoga. Tantra seekers would also chant specific verses. The above-mentioned chakras are envisioned as lotus having fifty outgoing petals. Each of these petals represents our desires, instincts and longings for worldly things. The words and humming of chanting create effects on each of these petals. This helps in awakening the power of Kundalini. And once the energy awakens and reaches a particular chakra, the petals are pierced and consciously become clear and clearer. The energy flows from downward to upward, starting from the genitals to the head.

Buddhism and Tantra      Buddhism also recognizes the existence of hidden energy in our body. Buddha himself professed the importance of joining our body with cosmic energy. The mandalas s devised by Buddhism try to depict the correlation between our individual energy and cosmic energy. Both the Vedic scriptures and Buddhism believes that Tantra is the union of three forces: the physical energy of the human body, the cosmic energy and the ultimate power the Divine energy.

UmaPrykhodko
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Tantra Yoga         It is believed that the corporeal act has three distinct purposes. To procreate for keeping the human race alive, to feel pleasure while doing the act, and to get liberation. Tantra Yoga deals with the third object, the liberation of the soul by taking the help of physical acts done together by a man and a woman in their intimate moments. By practising Tantra Yoga one tries to re-integrate with what is beyond our form, the body. Our awakened mind and upward-going energy of ours would lead us to the universal energy, the life that is larger than ours. This is done by practising yoga postures, meditation and Tantric practices.

Tantra is a science. The science of the human body and the human mind. The Tantric practices enable the human body to experience the unexperienced, within ourselves.

For yoga, body and body's desire have never been taboo. Instead, there are techniques devised by yoga masters, which help us to get our body keeping healthy and making stronger. Overall health certainly would raise the body's power and resultantly the strength to enjoy the act satisfying bodily desire also increases.

It has been believed by yoga masters that the health of the human body also can be improved by practising yoga. Tantra Yoga is the branch of Yoga that deals with the interrelationship between Yoga and Tantra. In our life what we lack is experiencing powerful body energy.  

Happening of such an intense Tantric experience would stimulate certain glands and increase the vital power of the body. Tantra Yoga Helps in doing so. 

Theme: Yoga Asanas and Food. Eat Vegetarian Food for Health

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Yoga and Diet:      Yoga systems do not advise you to starve yourself on the 'bellow the poverty line diet', which is sometimes termed as Hollywood Diet, too. Our food is very much important in shaping the quality of our thoughts.  

The yoga system strongly believes and advocates that our mental development and spiritual uplift are linked with the food we consume. So there are theories in the Yoga system and Ayurved, the ancient system of healing, narrating how the purity of the diet helps us become peaceful and spiritually aware. There are three types of food. One is food that makes us unhealthy; the second is food that gives us nourishment and health. The superfood is the fruit that gives us mental peace.

 When you are practising Yoga Asanas, you have decided to have all the benefits available by doing so. Therefore the diet should be devised in such a way that it augments the benefits of yoga practices. The composition of the diet should be balanced and the quality vegetarian, as yoga denies any kind of violence. The food that arrived through the process of killing another soul on the earth could not help our wellness, that is what yoga believes. 

Here is some information about vegetarian food that would help to make our body and mind balanced.

  • vegetables of all kinds (except onion and garlic) and sweet fruits are essential.
  • Grain like wheat, rice and oats must be used, especially not in very much powdered form.
  • Cereals and all types of milk products; and the natural sugar taken in form of Honey and sweet fruit would be better.
  • It would be advisable not to consume non-vegetarian food like meat and seafood.
  • Lesser intake of fried and intensely boiled food should be avoided.
  • If it is possible take only the natural substances in your diet and avoid unnatural like processed food and artificial colours.
  • These are general guidelines; you can devise your plate according to your choice and availability.
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Yoga Retreats in India        Yoga retreats are the centres where you will find residential facilities with yoga training. In India, you would find various types and sizes of yoga retreats catering to your needs and desires. Mostly these retreats concentrate their attention on the matters of teaching yoga postures, pranayama, and meditation. Living comfortably is also a part of yoga theory. So in such retreats, you would find the living comfortable.

India is the founder of the yoga system. From the days of the ancient universities of Nalanda and Taxila (Taxshila), the knowledge about yoga and meditation is imparted here with authenticating spiritual dedication. It is said that silence is the language of God. In a well-managed yoga centre, you would be able to hear that language, sitting in an atmosphere of peace and quietness enabling you to submerge into yourself.

In modern-day India, too, the teaching of yoga is continued with the same dedication with which it was done in the ancient time of Aryan saints and medieval yoga gurus. Many of the retreats emphasize the lifestyle of the ashram during the sessions of yoga teaching. The persons working in such institutes or facilities are mostly well-trained in the field of yoga poses and meditation.

How Retreats Help Learning Yoga       Yoga is known as the journey of knowing the self; it is like a trip to discover the person living within ourselves. For travelling inside of us, we need an exclusive corner of peace and tranquillity. The yoga retreats situated either on the hills of the Himalayas or on the tranquil beaches of India would provide you with the space you need. You would find a nice place around Hrishikesh in north India or Goa near Bombay. The retreats situated in Kerala offer a peaceful stay at palm grove beaches. These places open up the possibilities of experiencing real peace we can have by doing yoga and meditation.

What They Provide in Yoga Retreats     Depending upon the situation and the place of the retreat and the tariffs they charge, the facilities offered to the yoga parishioners could be varied. In most of the retreats, especially near Haridwar and Hrishikesh, the charges would be very economical. Most of the places provide the facilities of food and beverages at cost prices. They charge some fees for the services of a trained yoga teacher.

Other Facilities in Yoga Retreats various places are catering to the different needs of the person. It includes the services of providing Ayurvedic spas and massages. Those who want special huts near the seashore or under a palm tree will be required to pay extra for the same. These resorts provide all types of yoga accessories like yoga mats and yoga balls. You would find a good gym, too, in some of the resorts.

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